The Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has identified a cluster of major projects that will positively affect the region.

Toowoomba's airport is slated to get a $5.5 million upgrade including extending the runway and expanding the taxiways - which means that planes up to Dash8-300 size (seating 50 passengers) will be able to use the airport.

Additionally there is the Surat Basin Rail Line - a $1 billion project that will take about a year to construct and will have a workforce in the range of 1,000 people.

A federal government study in March 2008 found that an inland rail line between Melbourne and Brisbane - running via Toowoomba - would be the most efficient way to deliver a standard gauge line for freight.

Construction of a water pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Cressbrook Dam commenced in March 2009 and will cater for current demand as well as future demand up to at least 2050.

Toowoomba will become the gateway to the Surat Basin which has the capacity to support 26 coal and coal seam gas mines.

The TRC area will also benefit from the federal government's National Broadband Network announced in April 2009.